Stephen

Hello Leslie,

I'm sorry you have felt the need to leave this review even after I explained to you in person that your child's special needs were beyond my professional capabilities and expertise.

As for payment, I only charge half price for first lessons as these are a time for both of us to see if what I can offer is suitable for your child. You would have already known that a payment to First Tutors is necessary to obtain my details.

Also I'm not sure how you interpreted disgust as an expression. I was actually expressing concern because your younger child, who was not part of the lesson, was taken to our trampoline in our garden without my consent and I am not able to accept any responsibility for accident or injuries whilst teaching.

Your initial enquiry was for Maths tuition for your daughter. During our phone call, you also asked if I would take your son, for guitar tuition. I then agreed to meet you and your children to see if doing the two subjects would be feasible.

During the session, you also asked if your daughter could try out piano. I obliged and sat with her and went through some elementary exercises but it was apparent that she had little interest. I must also point out that she was getting distressed and wanted to join your toddler on my children's trampoline which was never part of the agreement, nor was it ever discussed as a possibility.

Your son was not easy to communicate with and, having re-assessed the situation, I contacted you to say that I felt that I did not have the professional skills needed to teach guitar to him. You offered no negative comments at the time.

I might add also that your husband spent most of the lesson wandering around in my garden with your youngest child, without asking permission, inspecting my children's pet rabbits and guinea pigs who were at a delicate stage of breeding and needed to be undisturbed.

My reply to you, immediately after the lesson, by text was as follows:

Dear Lesley,

It was a pleasure to meet your family today.

I've been giving serious thought to your situation and whether I can effectively offer what Hayley-Grace and Jerome both need.

I am primarily a teacher who has had some experience of children with special needs but I am not qualified in any way. With this in mind, I don't feel it would be right to charge you money for a skillset that I do not possess that you will almost certainly be better off finding elsewhere.

Hayley-Grace is a very bright girl, certainly way ahead of her peers and in all honesty is not at a place where she needs any extra tuition on maths.

I sincerely hope I am not disappointing you but I feel I have to be honest with you and your husband.

I hope you find a suitable tutor for Jerome – underneath I can tell he is a very sensitive young man.

Kindest regards,

Stephen .

Your reply was simply:

Thank you. Kindly send me your bank details for the payment.

I trust that this puts your mind at rest and that your review is unjustified.

Thank you for the encouragement!

It's such a joy to watch students progress and I'm thrilled with the progress Ash has made in just a few lessons.

Keep up the good work and I look forward to continuing with you on your musical journey.